B50 Biodiesel Officially Launched, Claimed Superior to B40
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has stated that the quality of B50 biodiesel is superior to B40 following a series of trials on various types of vehicles and modes of transport. He noted that test results showed better performance for B50, including in terms of engine filter durability.
“B50 underwent a six-month test case. Trains, cars, even Mercedes cars were tested, as well as buses. Not only Toyota, Mercedes was also fine. Ships, we tested everything. Thank God, the test results showed that the quality of B50 is much better than B40,” Bahlil said during the launch of the B50 Biodiesel Mandatory Programme in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday.
The B50 Biodiesel Mandatory Programme, launched by President Prabowo Subianto, requires a 50 percent blend of biodiesel in diesel fuel. The policy is part of the government’s efforts to reduce dependence on fuel imports, strengthen the added value of natural resources, and enhance national energy security and sovereignty.
Bahlil explained that one indicator of B50’s improved quality is the lifespan of engine filters. With B40, filters typically needed replacement after vehicles travelled a certain distance, whereas with B50, some vehicles have covered up to 40,000 kilometres without requiring a filter change.
He acknowledged that developing B50 was not an easy task, as increasing the biodiesel blend ratio usually requires gradual testing over a long period. However, the government accelerated the process to launch B50 in 2026, following President Prabowo’s directive.
Beyond technical benefits, the implementation of B50 is expected to have significant economic and environmental impacts. The government estimates that foreign exchange savings will increase from Rp133.3 trillion under the B40 programme to approximately Rp170 trillion with B50 in 2026. The programme is also projected to boost the added value of the crude palm oil (CPO) industry to Rp23.49 trillion, absorb around 2.1 million workers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 44.46 million tonnes of CO₂.